Contents: Checking the characteristics and… ↳ Steering and suspension ↳ Power transmission ↳ Clutch ↳ Instruments and electrical equipment ↳
Every 16,000 km or 12 months.
Checking the characteristics and operation of the brake system
1. Make sure that the car does not pull to the side during braking and that the wheels do not lock prematurely during sudden braking.
2. Make sure that there is no vibration transmitted through the steering wheel during braking. On cars equipped with ABS, vibration may be felt on the brake pedal during sharp braking - this is normal and should not cause alarm.
3. Make sure that the parking brake works properly, does not require excessive movement of the lever, and that it holds the vehicle on a slope in both directions (up and down).
4. With the ignition off, check the operation of the brake booster as follows. Press the brake pedal 4-5 times to remove the vacuum. Then start the engine. When starting, you should feel the pedal sink due to the vacuum. After the engine has been running for a while (at least two minutes), turn it off. If you now press the brake pedal again, at this point you may hear a whistling sound created by the servo booster. But after four or five presses, this sound should stop, and the pedal should become hard again.
Steering and suspension
5. Check for any defects in the steering, suspension, road holding ability and controllability of the vehicle.
6. While driving, check for any unusual noises or vibrations.
7. Make sure the steering works reliably. When turning the steering wheel, you should not feel too much resistance or excessive slack. Monitor the noise from the suspension by ear when turning and driving over uneven surfaces.
Power transmission
8. Check the characteristics of the engine, transmission and drive shafts.
9. Make sure that the engine starts reliably when cold and hot.
10. Listen for any unusual noise coming from the engine or transmission.
11. Make sure that the engine runs smoothly at idle and that there is no uneven rotation during acceleration.
12. On models with manual transmission, make sure that all gears engage smoothly and without noise, and that the shift lever moves easily without sticking.
13. On models with automatic transmission, make sure that gear shifting is smooth and without jerking, and that the engine speed does not increase between gear shifts. Make sure that all automatic transmission modes can be set when the vehicle is stopped. If a malfunction is detected, contact your dealer.
14. Turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and slowly drive in a circle. Listen for a metallic knock coming from the front of the car. Perform the same check by turning the steering wheel all the way to the other side. The knock indicates wear of the drive shaft joint. In this case, the joint needs to be replaced.
Clutch
15. Make sure the clutch pedal moves easily and smoothly throughout its travel, and that the clutch itself does not slip or drag. If you feel uneven movement or sticking areas, check that the clutch cable is routed correctly and that there are no sharp bends.
16. Inspect both ends of the clutch cable (on the transmission and inside the vehicle) for wear or fraying.
17. Check the pedal travel (see Chapter 8, paragraph 3) and adjust it if necessary.
Instruments and electrical equipment
18. Check the operation of all devices and electrical equipment.
19. Check that all instruments are giving correct readings and, by turning on all electrical components one by one, check that they are functioning normally.